Disclaimer- Severus and Hermione belong to Jkr.

Amma, Jay and Seema are mine.

A/N- This chapter is dedicated to my friend Akanksha. Happy birthday!

Thanks to Barb8, L123o123v123e123, Severus Hatake-Hyuga, NamelessxFreak and Notwritten for reviewing.

Reviews mean a lot so plz keep them coming.

Hopefully, I'll finish this before hp 7 comes out.

Namelessxfreak- This is mainly a HG/SS fic. So I doubt that Pansy or any other character will come along although there might be some mentions of other pairings. Thanks for your opinions and I'll keep them in mind. I'm glad you like Hermione's diary because it's my favorite part to write.

Severus Hatake-Hyuga- It's really nice to know that I am sticking to their characters. Keep indicating what you like about the story. It means a lot.

Notwritten- I hope you find this a gr8 deal more interesting.

L123o123v123e123- It's good to know that a fellow Indian approves of my ideas. Plz keep reviewing what you enjoyed and feel free to suggest any improvements.

Barb8- your wow means a lot. Hope you like this one better.

Chapter 5

Severus and Hermione walked along a narrow street lined with small huts and tents. They stepped lightly so as to avoid the cow dung on the roads. Hermione already had brought down her foot on one, causing Severus to chuckle out loudly before he scourgified her foot.

But Hermione could swear that the smell was still there.

'What is this place? '

'It's one of the many slums in Bombay, it's called the "kachchra slum".'

'This is disgusting, why don't they clean up this place. I never knew such places exi…'

'Stop blaming these people for it.' Severus said sharply.' Don't be so quick to decide what is disgusting and what is not.'

'But…' Hermione opened her mouth to protest before shutting up when Severus glared at her.

'Do you know how these slums began?' he asked his eyes glittering dangerously.

She swallowed and shook her head.

'Gerald Aungier was the second governor of Bombay during the British rule, he was told to make money out of this city, to squeeze out every resource and make most of it. He was excellent at his job and managed to attract tradesmen and artisans to Bombay, from all over the country. This quiet city became a centre point for all trade activities. Tradesmen from all over the country began to be lured to Bombay.

Not all of these tradesmen were rich so they built houses outside the British fort, the first slums. Gerald Aungier's idea was successful in a way so as to make money for the crown, but the city was ill equipped to deal with the increasing population….'

'I see, so in a way our ancestors are to be blamed as well.'

'No one is to be blamed, Hermione.' Severus said gently 'Just don't decide why things are the way they are in such a hurry.'

Hermione took his hand and he raised in eyebrows in surprise but did not pull away.

'Why did he ask us to come here for the portkey?'

'Jay has certain ideas about people. People who are desperate to meet him have to go through an ordeal,' Severus said dryly 'His friends and acquaintances have to show him they need him.'

'So how did you meet him?' Hermione was eager to see what Severus had done to reach Jay. After all he was one of the most proud wizards she'd come across.

'Jay had heard of me back in England. We have mutual acquaintances. He heard I was in India looking for a partner to open up a potions store and presented himself. He doesn't mind working hard to get what he wants and expects us to do the same. He has a knack of knowing what benefits him.'

'A Slytherin and a Hufflepuff, unusual combination.'

They had reached a small hut which was the filthiest of all. Hermione scrunched up her nose in response to the smell and entered.

'Oh shit.' She breathed. She was surprised to encounter magic here. The hut was expanded magically from inside. It wasn't very big but it was comfy looking.

They encountered a small, old toothless woman wearing a white sari who gave her a grin and she couldn't help grinning back.

'Severus, give amma a hug now.' Severus grimaced.

'Hurry up, or you won't get what you want.'

Severus stepped up and gave her a small hug.

She smiled again and said 'Now don't look so upset, I saw you holding hands with this pretty girl and you didn't mind at all. You were smiling infact'

Severus sputtered and Hermione covered her laugh with a cough.

The old woman winked at her and called to her,' Come here.'

Hermione went to her and suddenly was enveloped in a hug. The old woman smelled of spice and fresh flowers. Hermione closed her eyes and inhaled the scent again. The scent reminded her of home.

'Everyone calls me amma.'

'I am Hermione.'

'I am very happy to meet you; I haven't seen Severus smile like that since Seema. He usually smirks.'

'I know.' They both started laughing and Severus scowled.

He said loudly.' Amma, we have to go.'

'Okay, here is your teapot and to activate it, stir clockwise twice.'

He took the pot wordlessly from her and gave Hermione a tea spoon he'd conjured.

Amma levitated the pot. Both of them stirred together and Hermione felt a familiar jerk at her navel.

She found herself face to face with a tall, lean man. He was quite good looking, Hermione acknowledged. He had a tanned skin and black jet hair which was slicked back. She was surprised as she'd expected someone looking like Fudge.

The man folded his hands in a 'namaste' and Hermione did the same.

'Severus, delighted to see you again. You've brought the beautiful Miss Granger.' He gave her what he clearly thought to be a winning smile.

His pompous manner reminded her somewhat of Percy and she smiled back fighting the urge to giggle.

He mistook her amusement for awe and said modestly,' People usually don't expect me to be so good looking.'

Hermione glanced at Severus and knew they were both thinking the same thing.

Lockhart.

August 21st

The meeting with Jay went off well. He agreed to help me organize the list of ingredients in the quantity required. Now I can breathe a little. So today I'll be celebrating a bit with Severus, because I'll have to get working tomorrow. I'm looking forward to learning more about Amma. She seemed so sweet and caring.

I'm also looking forward to something more from Severus, and after a long time I feel like I'm ready for a relationship, with him of all people. Who would've thought? What if he doesn't want me?

Amma mentioned someone called Seema.

I have to know more about her.

I sound like I'm jealous. He seems to have had a strange effect on me. It's time I have the same effect on him. I'll have to ask the manager to send up a stylist for me. Maybe I can get something really sexy. Sexy enough for him to answer my questions and maybe something more…Merlin, I've got a dirty mind.

Severus was waiting nervously for Hermione in the hotel lobby.

'She's not coming.' he said to himself.

'Of course she is.' he heard that voice in his head again.

'Why aren't you there when I'm with Hermione? Atleast she'll have an excuse not to see me. She'll say I hear voices in my head, which is actually true.'

' Because,' his voice chuckled, 'You loose your wits in front of her.'

Severus groaned.

'Severus.' Hermione called to him.

'She's here.' he thought relieved.

He turned around and swallowed. 'Oh Merlin.'

She was wearing a red sari of extremely thin material which was wrapped around her body showing off every curve. Her blouse was sleeveless and showed off her white arms which severus knew would feel like satin. She'd put up her hair so that a few tendrils framed her face. She was wearing gold bracelets and earrings.

'Severus, is this appropriate for where you're taking me.' She asked her brow furrowed.

'You look beautiful.'

'Really?' Hermione asked smiling.

'Yes.'

'How beautiful?'

He was confused. Did she want him to praise her? What more could he say?

He was about to say something when Hermione shook her head and placed a small finger on his lips. He could smell her perfume.

'Don't tell me Severus, show me.'

He growled, then pulled her closer and started to devour her lips with abandon.

They had made it to a seaside restaurant half an hour late. She'd been disappointed when he'd remembered that he had made reservations.

'Why didn't we go to bittersweet?'

'My staff,' Severus shifted uncomfortably in his seat 'Like to gossip.'

He was reluctant to tell her about the 'daru' incident.

She nodded and got back to her food.

He had wanted to ask her about something that had been plaguing his mind since the first time he'd kissed her and finally got the courage to ask.

'Hermione, how are Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter?'

She looked up at him surprised.

'Why do you ask?'

'They were my students after all.'

'Students you hated Severus, Don't deny it.'

'I don't hate them, I just find them annoying.'

'Sure….'

'Forget it.'

'No, I can't forget it. You could've asked how Draco was doing or even Minerva. But you ask about Harry and Ron? Spill the beans.'

'Damn,' he thought. This witch was just too smart for her own good.

'Come on, Severus, speak. I'll warn you , you aren't the only one on this table knowing leglimency.'

Severus ignored her, sealing his mind immediately.

'Fine, don't tell me.' she huffed angrily and started having her dinner with gusto.

He sighed; this wasn't working well at all.

'I wanted to know if you were still in a relationship with Mr. Weasley.'

She looked up at him her eyes flashing.

Something told Severus that telling her this had been a very bad mistake.

'Is that what you think of me? That I would snog you while I was still with Ron?'

'I'm sorry.' He mumbled conscious of the fact that people were beginning to stare.

'I can't hear you.'

'I'm sorry.' he said loudly enough for her to hear him.

'Good. I am with Ron.'

He dropped his fork. She started to giggle.

'Gods, Severus you should have seen your face. I was joking.'

He glared at her.

'Besides, Harry would kill me if I as much as pinched Ron's bum.'

'What …..'He gaped at her as he understood her meaning.

She laughed again

He recovered and started to eat his food occasionally stealing looks at her cleavage whenever her 'pallu' dropped.

Hermione must have noticed it because her right foot had started to rub across his calf making his pants become unbearably tight.

Once they had finished dinner. He asked her if she wanted dessert. She shook her head and as soon they got out of reach of muggle eyes, he apparated them to his beach hut.

Severus hadn't felt this happy in a long time. In fact he didn't think he'd been happier. He'd had only one relationship in his life before Hermione, if she would call this a relationship. Then he started panicking. What if she didn't want a relationship with him?

'What are you thinking?' Hermione asked him. She was lying on his side and was tracing the scars on his stomach with her fingers.

'Just about what happened.'

'Did you like it?' Hermione asked anxiously.

He nodded. Something in his eyes must have told her that he'd never had better sex before because she smirked at him.

He raised his eyebrows at her and she sobered up.

'Who's Seema?' she asked suddenly.

'Jay's sister.'

'What was she to you?'

'Nobody.'

'Then why did Amma mention her?' she was staring hard at him.

He sighed.

'Seema had wanted to do an internship with me. It seems she came to regard me as more than a teacher,. Pity because she was a brilliant student. I talked to Jay about some of her……letters to me and he sent her off to Beauxbatons for another internship. That's it.'

'But Amma said you looked happy with her.'

'She finds me happy with every female I meet. She wants me to get married while she's still alive.'

'So were you happy with Seema?'

'As a student she was more than satisfactory.'

'Not as a student, Severus.'

'She was too silly, she reminded me of Lavender Brown. How could I think of her like that?'

'Were you happy today …..with me?'

Severus wasn't expecting this question. So he stayed quiet trying to process what she had said to him. Apparently he took a long time answering because Hermione walked away from the bed and he was momentarily distracted by her round bottom.

'I am sorry for imposing myself on you. I should have realized that this was just a one night stand for you.' Her voice broke and she started crying.

Severus, terrifying death eater, double spy and Dumbledore's murderer had no idea how to handle this situation.

So he spoke whatever came to his mind.

'This wasn't just a one night for me. I was …afraid to ask you if you wanted more of a relationship with me or not. I was hoping against hope that you did. As for your question, Hermione I have never been happier in my life than I am right now.'

She smiled and walked towards him. She got back to her place beside him and kissed him on his nose.

'Now, I have a question for you.'

'Fire away.'

'If you're not too tired would you like to have a go at it again?'

Hermione laughed and pulled his head down to meet hers.

A/N- amma is a hindi word for mother or old woman.

Namaste is an Indian greeting.

Pallu is a hindi word for the part of the sari used to cover up cleavage by slinging it over one shoulder from the opposite side. It is usually held in place with something like a pin. But Hermione wasn't using any.

Was it done knowingly?

Only time will tell.

Review please.